Saudi Arabia Seeks Military Coordination with Turkey and Pakistan Amid Houthi Attacks
Saudi Arabia is seeking closer military coordination with Turkey and Pakistan as Houthi attacks from Yemen intensify. Under a new joint defense agreement, an urgent meeting of their military chiefs will be held to discuss ways to support Saudi Arabia.
The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement was signed in August and stipulates that an armed attack on any one of the three countries will be treated as an attack on all three. The move comes after Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis stepped up attacks on Saudi targets, with dozens of missiles and drones launched at targets in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
Saudi authorities said they intercepted six ballistic missiles, while emergency alerts were issued for several areas, including the holy city of Mecca, Jeddah, and Yanbu, a major Red Sea oil port. Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti called on soldiers to remain ready to fight the Houthis and sacrifice their lives if necessary.
Turkey's Defense Ministry said Chief of General Staff General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu would travel to Saudi Arabia on Friday to meet his Saudi and Pakistani counterparts. Turkey has previously said it could help Saudi Arabia with military requirements, particularly technical needs.